Ferry supporters hope for more veto overrides, but some Alaska lawmakers say that ship has sailed

JUNEAU — The new session of the Alaska Legislature convenes Tuesday, and some state legislators are trying to build support for a new vote to override some or all of Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s controversial budget vetoes from last year. Such a vote would have to take place in the first five days of session, and supporters of the Alaska Marine Highway System are leading the charge.

“I’d love to see a veto override on the Alaska Marine Highway System. Five million dollars isn’t much, but it would help,” said Rep. Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, referring to an item vetoed last year.

Forty-five votes are needed to override a budget veto, and lawmakers failed to reach that mark last year. Stutes said it’s unlikely that things have changed, but she would like to try.

Lawmakers in the House and Senate majority and minority caucuses are scheduled to hold closed-door organizational meetings beginning this weekend and continuing through the start of the session.

The possibility of an override will be among the topics, but House Majority Leader Steve Thompson, R-Fairbanks, said he thinks a vote is unlikely.

“I just don’t think it’ll happen,” he said.

“I just think everyone’s going to be focusing on the upcoming budget, not the one that’s passed,” he said.

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Last year, the Alaska Legislature cut about $190 million from the state operating budget, then Dunleavy vetoed another $400 million. Lawmakers pushed back, and the governor reversed himself on about half his vetoes. According to final figures, the share of the budget funded by taxes and investments was down about $390 million when work ended for the year.

Forty-five votes are needed in the 60-member Legislature to override a governor’s budget veto, and lawmakers never mustered enough support last year to override any of the governor’s decisions. Many lawmakers were in Wasilla, not Juneau, and never formally cast a vote for or against the governor’s decision. Some lawmakers said they are interested in forcing an override vote to put all legislators on the official record.

Stutes has focused on the override of a veto covering $5 million in funding for the Alaska Marine Highway system, and other coastal lawmakers have joined her push. Rep. Harriet Drummond, D-Anchorage, voiced her support on social media as well.

Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, said anyone asking for an override needs to keep in mind the state’s overall fiscal position. The governor’s proposed budget for next fiscal year, as proposed, includes a $1.5 billion deficit that would be covered by savings.

“With the debate over how to fill the enormous fiscal gap for FY2021, do we really want to increase the amount we need to scrape together by also raising what’s needed to cover FY2020′s budget?” she asked.

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Stutes’ request is limited, but if one item comes up for a vote, lawmakers will push for others as well, she said. Rep. Andi Story, D-Juneau, has suggested overriding the governor’s veto of behavioral healthcare funding, for example.

“It wouldn’t be just one or two things. Everyone would want their particular want overridden,” Stutes said.

The Kodiak lawmaker isn’t pinning her hopes solely on a veto override. Each year, the Legislature writes a supplemental budget to fix mistakes from the prior year, adding funding to areas that need it. This spring, the Legislature and governor’s office are already planning to add money for last year’s wildfire season and to cover Medicaid expenses.

Ferry funding could also make an appearance in the supplemental budget, and Stutes is prepared to make her case. She’s already scheduled a meeting of the House Transportation Committee for the first day of session, and on its agenda is a series of presentations about the importance of the ferry system to local communities.